ENGLISH
REFERENCE

knew

v.
US //ˈnju// UK //njˈuː// knew
  1. 1 past participle (nonstandard) (v.)
    C1 Advanced Dialect Informal

    a different way to say 'known' in some local styles of speaking.

    the past participle of 'know' in specific nonstandard dialects or colloquial registers.

    Example

    He said he should have knew better than to leave his bike unlocked.

    Example

    In certain regional dialects, speakers might say they have 'knew' a person for years, though 'known' remains the required form in all formal writing.

    Usage

    Used in place of the standard 'known' in perfect tenses or passive constructions within specific regional dialects.
Idioms1 entry

Last updated June 19, 2026